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Foggy with a Chance of Murder
What should have been a peaceful walk on the beach turns tragic when travel author Chloe Green tries unsuccessfully to save a ten- year- old boy from drowning. For Chloe, the boy s death is evidence that God does not exist that anyone or anything can be taken by random force, just as her own father was. But Rob Stevens, the boy s grieving father and a recent widower, appears to be the target in a chain of mysterious attacks that are anything but random. As the pair search for answers, Chloe is introduced to a new religion that offers the first hope she has felt in years. But her chance for a new beginning could be destroyed when a dense fog provides the perfect cover for an unknown assailant and one final attack. A classic whodunit with a unique LDS twist Readers of G. G. s previous mysteries will enjoy this latest offering from a Whitney Award winner The author was recently featured in Literary Worlds, a Special Collections exhibit at BYU s Harold B. Lee Library Online reading guide available for book clubs
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2011
3 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
G.G. Vandagriff
55 books325 followersG.G. Vandagriff is the author of over thirty novels Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. The Last Waltz, the first novel in her 20th Century Historical Romance Series won the Whitney Award for Best Historical Novel in 2009. There are now two more books in that series—Exile and Defiance.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 9, 2019
Kept you thinking.
June 13, 2011
I read this book for the purpose of writing a review of it. I wanted to like it because I am a fan of some LDS fiction especially the suspense-with a little romance-variety. This book made me stop and wonder why I haven't listed any LDS fiction on my shelves---I think it is an English major pride issue---I see LDS fiction as kind of a guilty pleasure...
Anyway, the title of this book was the first problem for me---it made me think of "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs", the children's book that was made into a movie. I really like that book--I own it--but it made it hard for me to see this book as a serious book. The title was a small problem in comparison to the other problems with this book---
The main character has potential but the other characters were kind of annoying. All of the characters said and did dumb things---so do I---but some of the wording was just silly and some of the action was incredible and not in a good way---in a far-fetched way. The author tried to deal with serious issues and many story lines. I think she did a good job on exploring the serious issues but some story lines were underdeveloped at best and at worst they didn't make solid sense.
Perhaps this book would have been better if more emphasis would have been put on the main character's eclectic tastes and quirkiness and if the humor and dialogue was less cheesy. Cheesy dialogue ruined the romance and suspended the suspense.
Anyway, the title of this book was the first problem for me---it made me think of "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs", the children's book that was made into a movie. I really like that book--I own it--but it made it hard for me to see this book as a serious book. The title was a small problem in comparison to the other problems with this book---
The main character has potential but the other characters were kind of annoying. All of the characters said and did dumb things---so do I---but some of the wording was just silly and some of the action was incredible and not in a good way---in a far-fetched way. The author tried to deal with serious issues and many story lines. I think she did a good job on exploring the serious issues but some story lines were underdeveloped at best and at worst they didn't make solid sense.
Perhaps this book would have been better if more emphasis would have been put on the main character's eclectic tastes and quirkiness and if the humor and dialogue was less cheesy. Cheesy dialogue ruined the romance and suspended the suspense.
September 6, 2011
I'd like to say that this was a decent book, but I had a hard time finding things in this book that were enjoyable. The characters, though well written, were not good people with little to no redeeming qualities. I found that the main characters seemed to take no responsibility for their own past actions. Nor did they react realistically to the events that unfolded. Their romance was almost non-existent, though apparently they did fall in love. The religious aspect was overwhelming and very preachy. It almost felt like two stories, one about the mystery and adventure and the other half about a woman learning the basics of a new religion. Not that it's a bad thing, but it was really out of place in a fiction novel. Overall it was a book that left me depressed - not something I look for in a romance.
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November 16, 2011
As well-written as portions of this book are, they are overwhelmed by a wildly inconsistent heroine. Is she the former-lifeguard athlete or the complete klutz who is continually getting hurt? Is she somber and responsible or an impetuous spitfire? Does she freeze in the face of danger or does she take out terrorist cells with a taser? That last bit strained all credulity for me. The odd thing is that all her other characters have a wonderful, believable consistency to them. Ms. Vandagriff can really write (the Arthurian Omen was amazing), but Chloe Greene belies her ability.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2011
Meh... This wasn't very suspenseful or thrilling although the author tried to write it that way I'm sure. It's more of a story of two people finding the church in their lives when they need it the most while also finding each other. Not too bad of a love story and the conversion story was actually pretty good. Some of the dialogue got a little cheesy and cringe worthy for my taste (please don't ever refer to yourself as a Jack Mormon). I still read it pretty quick because for the most part I liked the characters. But the whole book just wraps up too easily and nicely and too fast.
May 27, 2011
Set near the California coast. Rob Stevens' son dies in a drowning. His sister Ginger is an alcoholic. He takes her to a locked down detox facility. He has a number of brushes with death. Is it terrorists or something else.
Chloe is a writer. She lost her father 5 years ago. Her mother has become an alcholic. She and Rob meet when his son drowns.
They also meet Edward who helps them both to find hope and the gospel light.
Chloe is a writer. She lost her father 5 years ago. Her mother has become an alcholic. She and Rob meet when his son drowns.
They also meet Edward who helps them both to find hope and the gospel light.
July 16, 2011
I didn't care for the way the author writes as well as other authors. To me, it seemed choppy and events are thrown together to make a story. I don't know if I will read more of this authors books. I have read better books by other authors.
February 2, 2015
I'm laughing because when I went to rate this, I discovered I read it back in 2011! I liked the story and for the life of me can't believe I completely forgot it in such a short time. Well, it was worth a second read. I'd give it 3.5.
June 13, 2011
Horribly unrealistic and over the top cheesy - the only reason I finished it was because I didn't have another book to read
July 3, 2011
I bought the book because it deals with issues of loss and faith, but I cannot get past the heavy proselytizing.
October 28, 2017
An interesting mystery, but there were too many side stories going on. A lot of accurate info about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which was good. It just had a lot of personal changes happening in speed dial, so it seemed a little scattered.
December 1, 2017
6.2017 really a good read. Enjoyed the book.
September 13, 2025
This is a very "hopeful" read.
April 14, 2011
Life is a precarious balancing act, and Whitney Award winning author, G. G. Vandagriff understands that on more than one level—both in her own life and in her prolific writing. Vandagriff is the author of a variety of books, including the non-fiction work Deliverance from Depression, the women’s novel, Pieces of Paris, which deals with a woman who must overcome PTSD to save her marriage, the wild and humorous Alex & Briggie mystery series, and an epic pre-WWI historical novel, The Last Waltz.
In Vandagriff’s recent novel, Foggy With a Chance of Murder, Chloe Green exists just above layers of grief, despite her talent and success as a best-selling novelist. She writes formula mystery novels to numb her mind, just as her mother drinks to forget her husband’s death. The only thing that is keeping Chloe’s mother semi-functional is Chloe’s successful career as an author. Fed up with her mother’s continually tipsy guests, Chloe escapes to walk the beach. There she meets a man—in the worst of circumstances. Rob Stevens is frantically searching for his young son who’s gone missing. When the young boy drowns in the ocean right before her eyes, Chloe spirals back into a void of self-doubt. Despite her sympathy for other’s losses, she knows that she needs to make a serious change in a world she’s allowed to fill with hopelessness. Watching Rob’s grief reminds Chloe of her own tragedies, including her father’s death, and a heart-breaking romance she thought was over forever.
As a result of the young boy’s drowning, a cast of characters enters Chloe’s life, and before she realizes it, she is starting to change. Despite the fact that Chloe’s soul is expanding toward new possibilities, mystery and danger is around every corner as she grows closer to Rob and the volatile circumstances that seem to surround him. Then, an important part of her past returns and Chloe finds herself in the middle of more than one life-threatening situation.
Foggy With a Chance of Murder may be shelved with the other garden-variety suspense novels, but Foggy is so much more than the average offering. Vandagriff gives us glimpses into human nature that just aren’t found in the boilerplate mysteries, delving deep into characterization and stacking up the odds in a plot rich with complication and intrigue.
In Vandagriff’s recent novel, Foggy With a Chance of Murder, Chloe Green exists just above layers of grief, despite her talent and success as a best-selling novelist. She writes formula mystery novels to numb her mind, just as her mother drinks to forget her husband’s death. The only thing that is keeping Chloe’s mother semi-functional is Chloe’s successful career as an author. Fed up with her mother’s continually tipsy guests, Chloe escapes to walk the beach. There she meets a man—in the worst of circumstances. Rob Stevens is frantically searching for his young son who’s gone missing. When the young boy drowns in the ocean right before her eyes, Chloe spirals back into a void of self-doubt. Despite her sympathy for other’s losses, she knows that she needs to make a serious change in a world she’s allowed to fill with hopelessness. Watching Rob’s grief reminds Chloe of her own tragedies, including her father’s death, and a heart-breaking romance she thought was over forever.
As a result of the young boy’s drowning, a cast of characters enters Chloe’s life, and before she realizes it, she is starting to change. Despite the fact that Chloe’s soul is expanding toward new possibilities, mystery and danger is around every corner as she grows closer to Rob and the volatile circumstances that seem to surround him. Then, an important part of her past returns and Chloe finds herself in the middle of more than one life-threatening situation.
Foggy With a Chance of Murder may be shelved with the other garden-variety suspense novels, but Foggy is so much more than the average offering. Vandagriff gives us glimpses into human nature that just aren’t found in the boilerplate mysteries, delving deep into characterization and stacking up the odds in a plot rich with complication and intrigue.
June 11, 2011
FOGGY
With a Chance of
MURDER
By
G. G. VANDAGRIFF
Chloe Greene is a beautiful young woman who does not believe in God as such. Her belief is in nature and meditation. Rob Stevens is a "jack Mormon" who has lost all faith and belief in God when he loses his wife Pamela and son Robbie within 18 months of each other. Edward Petersen is Rob's elderly home teacher who for years has patiently visited Rob each month. Rob thinks he's a nuisance, but puts up with him. Martha is Chloe's alcoholic mother who has a strong dislike for Mormons. Ginger is Rob's sister who is also an alcoholic, whose secret from the past has made her a recluse and given her the desire to drink herself to death. Why? Luke is the boyfriend from Chloe’s past that suddenly appears from nowhere and wants her back. Can she trust him?
What brings this group of people together? A foggy beach and someone who wants Rob dead, but why? Learn how this group of people working together learn about prayer, faith, the Holy Ghost, peace, believing, Heavenly Father, trust in each other, celestial marriage and so much more.
Once I was able to sit down and really read this book, I couldn't put it down. I would read one chapter and it would leave me wanting to read the next one until I looked up and it was 1am in the morning and I had finished the final chapter. Who wanted Rob dead and why? What secret was Ginger hiding? Rob had to find the answer to both questions. As he looked for the answer to these questions, he opened the door to find hidden secrets of others he loved and thought he could trust. What are they? Who are they? G. G. has written a book that has intertwined so many story plots and has done it well. If you like mystery, intrigue, terror, betrayal, then I would recommend this book. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for young adults and up. Well done G.G.
This book was furnished to me by publisher Deseret Book
I received no compensation for the review of this book.
This book may be purchased at DeseretBook.com
With a Chance of
MURDER
By
G. G. VANDAGRIFF
Chloe Greene is a beautiful young woman who does not believe in God as such. Her belief is in nature and meditation. Rob Stevens is a "jack Mormon" who has lost all faith and belief in God when he loses his wife Pamela and son Robbie within 18 months of each other. Edward Petersen is Rob's elderly home teacher who for years has patiently visited Rob each month. Rob thinks he's a nuisance, but puts up with him. Martha is Chloe's alcoholic mother who has a strong dislike for Mormons. Ginger is Rob's sister who is also an alcoholic, whose secret from the past has made her a recluse and given her the desire to drink herself to death. Why? Luke is the boyfriend from Chloe’s past that suddenly appears from nowhere and wants her back. Can she trust him?
What brings this group of people together? A foggy beach and someone who wants Rob dead, but why? Learn how this group of people working together learn about prayer, faith, the Holy Ghost, peace, believing, Heavenly Father, trust in each other, celestial marriage and so much more.
Once I was able to sit down and really read this book, I couldn't put it down. I would read one chapter and it would leave me wanting to read the next one until I looked up and it was 1am in the morning and I had finished the final chapter. Who wanted Rob dead and why? What secret was Ginger hiding? Rob had to find the answer to both questions. As he looked for the answer to these questions, he opened the door to find hidden secrets of others he loved and thought he could trust. What are they? Who are they? G. G. has written a book that has intertwined so many story plots and has done it well. If you like mystery, intrigue, terror, betrayal, then I would recommend this book. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for young adults and up. Well done G.G.
This book was furnished to me by publisher Deseret Book
I received no compensation for the review of this book.
This book may be purchased at DeseretBook.com
July 11, 2011
I like that his author's uses of the LDS religion in her stories. That way I know that it will be a clean read. I liked that this was a shorter story than some of her others, but I would have liked to have more of an ending or at least an epilogue that expanded on the happy ending . This story is about hope and how the gospel and the belief in Jesus Christ can help us to heal from any tragedy that life can impose.
Chloe helps a man find and bring in his drowned 10 year old son. She wants to help him because she learns from a neighbor that he has also just lost his wife recently. Turning from her own sorrow of her father's death and betrayal of her lost love, she tries to help Rob Stevens.
What she doesn't know is that being around Rob will put her in danger as Rob is the target of terrorists due to his company headquarters being on foreign land that the terrorist cell wants for it's use.
Through their life and death situations, they also start to believe that their must be a high power watching over them. Their mutual friend and neighbor, Edward helps them to find and return to searching for the true source of happiness and peace.
Gretchen, rob's sister, is in AA rehab and rob is trying to find what triggered her to become an alcoholic. This results in finding that Pamela, his deceased wife, was unfaithful and that one of his sister and her friend's Brooke, is the other person along with her huabnd, that want to keep Gretchen silent about their part in the death of a former classmate by spiking her drink and drugging her to death. Gretchen knew about the alcohol in the drink and thought she was to blame for the death and so has been punishing herself. When she realizes the truth she is at first hesitant to believe then revealed of her guilt.
Rob is faced with the possibility that Chloe will go back to her old boyfriend,Luke. When Chloe realizes that Rob doesn't want a forever family with Pamela and one with her she drops Luke, but first she helps Luke to find religion too.
Chloe helps a man find and bring in his drowned 10 year old son. She wants to help him because she learns from a neighbor that he has also just lost his wife recently. Turning from her own sorrow of her father's death and betrayal of her lost love, she tries to help Rob Stevens.
What she doesn't know is that being around Rob will put her in danger as Rob is the target of terrorists due to his company headquarters being on foreign land that the terrorist cell wants for it's use.
Through their life and death situations, they also start to believe that their must be a high power watching over them. Their mutual friend and neighbor, Edward helps them to find and return to searching for the true source of happiness and peace.
Gretchen, rob's sister, is in AA rehab and rob is trying to find what triggered her to become an alcoholic. This results in finding that Pamela, his deceased wife, was unfaithful and that one of his sister and her friend's Brooke, is the other person along with her huabnd, that want to keep Gretchen silent about their part in the death of a former classmate by spiking her drink and drugging her to death. Gretchen knew about the alcohol in the drink and thought she was to blame for the death and so has been punishing herself. When she realizes the truth she is at first hesitant to believe then revealed of her guilt.
Rob is faced with the possibility that Chloe will go back to her old boyfriend,Luke. When Chloe realizes that Rob doesn't want a forever family with Pamela and one with her she drops Luke, but first she helps Luke to find religion too.
Read
June 13, 2011I found Foggy with a Chance of Murder to be less of a suspense novel and more of an emotional journey by the characters. Both Chloe and the other main character, Rob Stevens, are dealing with a lot of emotional struggles as well as the challenges that come from having close family members who are alcoholics.
Romantic tension between the characters is complicated when Chloe's old boyfriend emerges on the scene and a suspense element complicates Rob's life. In the midst of their struggles, Chloe and Rob both begin a journey of spiritual enlightenment and several attempts are made on Rob's life.
Overall, I found Foggy with a Chance of Murder to be an enjoyable way to spend a few hours as I journeyed with the characters on their paths to self-discovery. G.G. is a talented writer and she showcases her abilities particularly well in the depth of her characters.
Read the full review at http://traciabramson.blogspot.com/201...
Romantic tension between the characters is complicated when Chloe's old boyfriend emerges on the scene and a suspense element complicates Rob's life. In the midst of their struggles, Chloe and Rob both begin a journey of spiritual enlightenment and several attempts are made on Rob's life.
Overall, I found Foggy with a Chance of Murder to be an enjoyable way to spend a few hours as I journeyed with the characters on their paths to self-discovery. G.G. is a talented writer and she showcases her abilities particularly well in the depth of her characters.
Read the full review at http://traciabramson.blogspot.com/201...
October 21, 2013
G.G. Vandagriff’s Foggy with a Chance of Murder is a captivating novel of intrigue and suspense. Chloe is a young woman feeling lost after her father’s untimely death and devastating betrayal by her boyfriend. Burying herself in her work as a best-selling author, she travels to exotic destinations to hide from the grief that all but consumes her. Rob is a widower struggling for answers while facing the untimely death of his ten year old son. Chloe and Rob cross paths journeying for answers aided by Rob’s dedicated home-teacher. As their friendship starts to develop, Rob’s life is targeted placing both Rob and Chloe in perilous circumstances. I enjoyed this novel due to the swiftness of the plot that kept the story from becoming stale and the well blended elements of mystery, suspense, and drama.
July 22, 2011
I think the idea of this book was better than the actual book. It just wasn't written super great and I didn't fully understand why the terrorists were after just him. It was also very odd timing that these terrorists were after him at the exact same time the people from his sister's past were coming to get him too. I also thought things changed too quickly- like how the main girl went from being an atheist to believing in God and miracles and wanting to go to church. Or how the guy went from grieving his dead wife and son and never wanting to see the main girl again to falling in love her. Anyway, this book was ok but there were a lot of problems with it which will probably be fixed when the author gets more experience
May 7, 2011
Chloe Greene is an author who has traveled to far away places to collect data for her books. She decides to stay with her mother to help her overcome her acohol addiction. When a young boy drowns in the ocean near her mother's home, Chloe feels for Rob the father of the youung boy, Rob had just lost his wife eighteen months before the drowning of his son. Chloe meets an older gentleman who tells her about his church and trys to help her believe in God and develop a relationship with Him. A quick read that I enjoyed so much I had a hard time putting it down.
October 12, 2011
This was a good read- 3.5 stars but I rounded up. :) I enjoyed the emotional and spiritual journey of the characters in this book. Finding hope in the midst of heartache and tragedy is always a struggle and I appreciated the way the author showed this. I didn't think is was quite the "suspense" it was portrayed to be, but it did have some suspenseful moments. I read it quickly which is always a good sign. I've always wanted to live in a beachfront property in California. I was green with envy the whole book.
LDS fiction
LDS fiction
August 5, 2011
This is some LDS fiction recommended by my sister. This was a great mystery, a little romance, and a healthy dose of faith/religion.
The story follows the lives of a man and a woman each dealing with death and loss of loved ones in their lives. Each struggles to find hope and a belief in God while being targeted by a terrorist cell. Not 100% realistic, but how much fiction is??
All in all, enjoyable. A little light summer reading.
The story follows the lives of a man and a woman each dealing with death and loss of loved ones in their lives. Each struggles to find hope and a belief in God while being targeted by a terrorist cell. Not 100% realistic, but how much fiction is??
All in all, enjoyable. A little light summer reading.
June 18, 2011
Ends too abruptly; too much proselytizing. But I guess it was good enough that I didn't just stop reading...although the whole time I kept thinking, "I need to hurry and finish this book because I have so many on my shelf that I want to read before they are due at the library."
July 30, 2012
This is one of my favourite authors, so I've read just about all of her books. This one is not one of her best. It's a nice story and is very well written, as I would expect of this author, but is not all really plausible. A lot of coincidences enter into the plot. I still enjoyed reading it.
July 30, 2014
This was a book about finding the church, about romance, and about someone trying to murder an innocent man. Yes, it was cheesy and probably unrealistic, but I enjoyed it. Unlike other people, I like conversion stories and don't see anything wrong with putting them in a mystery/romance.
July 28, 2011
Really great read! Loved it!
July 9, 2011
this was a free book through goodreads giveaway. i have to say how much i enjoyed this book from first page to last. im actually sad i finished book as i really think this book was very well written.
June 6, 2011
This was a very good book. I really liked the characters and the story line.
August 26, 2011
Good enough, but slightly cheesy. I like her books with genealogy entwined better.
August 20, 2011
I liked the mystery and romance in the book, but it felt preachy to me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews